Originally published Sunday, July 27, 2008 at 12:00 AM
World Digest
Raul Castro revisits revolution landmark
President Raul Castro returned Saturday to the military barracks where he and his brother Fidel launched Cuba's revolution, addressing thousand...
Santiago, Cuba
President Raul Castro returned Saturday to the military barracks where he and his brother Fidel launched Cuba's revolution, addressing thousand of supporters amid questions about whether he will announce more changes to remake the island's communist system.
Castro spoke as the sun set over the jagged peaks of the Sierra Maestra range that rings Santiago, Cuba's second-largest city. At his back stood the orange and white Moncada military complex where he and Fidel led a band of rebels that launched an attack 55 years ago, planting the seeds for a revolution that succeeded in January 1959.
Since taking office five months ago, Raul Castro has opened more unused state land to private farmers, legalized cellphones for ordinary citizens and allowed some workers to seek legal title to their homes.
Ahmadabad, India
At least 16 bombs rock historic city
Bombs exploded Saturday near a busy market and a hospital in a western Indian city, killing 29 people and injuring 88 a day after deadly blasts struck the southern technology hub of Bangalore.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility and it was not clear whether the bombings were connected to those a day earlier. But suspicion for both quickly fell on Muslim militants who were blamed for previous attacks, including the 2006 bombings that ripped through Mumbai's commuter-rail network and killed nearly 200.
At least 16 bombs went off Saturday evening in several crowded neighborhoods of Ahmadabad — a crowded and historic city that in 2002 was the scene of some of the worst rioting between India's Hindu majority and its Muslim minority.
Tehran, Iran
Leader says more centrifuges in place
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Saturday that his country dramatically had expanded the number of machines at its disposal producing enriched uranium, defying international demands for the country to halt the production of nuclear material.
![]()
But the hard-line leader, quoted by official and semiofficial media, also appeared to suggest that Iran might be willing to stop adding more centrifuges, a condition for preliminary talks to end the diplomatic standoff over Iran's nuclear program.
And experts played down the significance of Ahmadinejad's claim. "It's not just the number of centrifuges that counts," said a Western diplomat in Tehran, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "It's whether they're running and how well."
Still, he added, Ahmadinejad's assertion "won't help" resolve the standoff between Iran and the West.
Acapulco, Mexico
Fishing nets blamed for sea-turtle deaths
Environmental officials in Mexico say dozens of dead sea turtles apparently killed in fishing nets have washed up on beaches in recent days.
Authorities say 59 Olive Ridley turtles have been found on beaches in and around the resort of Acapulco.
Environmental protection officer Manuel de Jesus Solis says his agency found 12 dead turtles bearing marks apparently caused by fishing nets. It was unclear which fishing boats were involved.
Victor Berdejo says another 47 dead turtles were found by personnel at a turtle-protection area he supervises.
The sea turtles, once hunted in Mexico for their meat and eggs, were declared a protected species in 1990. Fishermen are required to include turtle escape devices in their nets.
London
Prince the lookout during copter raid
Prince William took part in a British navy helicopter raid that opened fire on a speedboat believed to be used by drug runners, the Ministry of Defense said Saturday.
It was the second time the prince — known in the Royal Navy as Sub-Lt. Wales — helped his crew mates on the HMS Iron Duke go after suspected narcotics traffickers in the Caribbean as part of his program to gain experience in all the branches of the British armed forces.
A military spokesman said the Iron Duke intercepted the speedboat on July 18 about 110 miles north of Venezuela's and Colombia's coastlines.
William was the lookout on the Lynx helicopter deployed to track the boat as marksmen shot out the vessel's engine. Three Colombians were arrested when the Iron Duke, the British frigate from which the helicopter operates, caught up with the stricken speedboat.
Also
Authorities in northeastern India have asked the army to help protect endangered one-horned rhinoceroses from poachers and have made the soldiers honorary wildlife wardens, officials said Saturday. "The army will now assist the authorities at the Kaziranga National Park in protecting the rhino," park Director S.N. Buragohain said. The 267-square-mile park, 135 miles east of Gauhati, the capital of Assam state, is home to more than 1,800 of the world's estimated 3,000 one-horned rhinoceroses. Poachers killed about 20 rhinos in the park last year and six have been killed this year.
Seattle Times news services
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
UPDATE - 02:02 AM
Pope fine for Christmas blessing after fall
UPDATE - 12:17 AM
Treetops glisten, but storm snarls Midwest holiday
UPDATE - 12:38 AM
Accused Virginia hostage taker had criminal past
UPDATE - 02:04 AM
Pakistan police: Americans may face terror charges
UPDATE - 12:46 AM
Senate OK's health care bill in victory for Obama

nwautos
Chetan Kumar Maini, the vice chairman and chief technology officer of Reva Electric Car Company, looks over his company's cars in Bangalore, India. (P...
Post a comment
nwjobs
Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
The company holiday party: Morale booster or budget buster?
Post a comment
- Injured Aggie receives hospital visit from UW players, coaches
- Mariners Blog | Report: Michael Saunders was originally in Cliff Lee deal
- Beacon Hill couple's happy life began to fall apart, friend says
- The Blotter | UPDATE: Hicks now charged in slaying of girlfriend, infant daughter
- Jack Zduriencik says trade adds late-inning relief Mariners needed
- Boeing gets order for 11 Dreamliners
- Investigation in police shooting shifts to gunman's weapons cache
- All You Can Eat | Atlas Foods closes, Boom Noodle to move in at U-Village
- Husky Football Blog | A Husky Holiday Wish List
- Senate OK's health care bill in victory for Obama
- Senate faces Christmas Eve vote on health care
687 - Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik: Morrow trade "complete, separate'' entity from Lee deal, fills big need in Seattle's bullpen
216 - Investigation in police shooting shifts to gunman's weapons cache
148 - McKenna rips health care bill's special deal for Nebraska
124 - Streetcar cost overruns: What about the next line?
99 - Report: Michael Saunders was originally in Cliff Lee deal
93 - A Husky Holiday Wish List
73 - Congressional report clears ACORN in voter-fraud case
58 - Minnesota lawmaker winning over 'tea party' activists
44 - Fannie and Freddie CEOs to get up to $6M in pay
44
- All You Can Eat | Atlas Foods closes, Boom Noodle to move in at U-Village
- Injured Aggie receives hospital visit from UW players, coaches
- Mercedes dealer Phil Smart devoted to much more than selling cars
- Michelle Akers' horse rescue faces flooding, financial ruin
- Reader photos show the best of the Northwest
- Streetcar cost overruns: What about the next line?
- Northwest Voices | Letters to the Editor | 'Tis the season for taxes
- Politics Northwest | McKenna rips health care bill's special deal for Nebraska
- Hal Reasby, first black schools chief in Edmonds and Monroe, dies
- The Fund For The Needy | Kindering Center in Bellevue helps children cope with challenges








